What Are Third Spaces — And Why Should You Care?

The number of Americans who say they attend weekly religious services has dropped in recent years, especially among adults under 30.

In response to declining attendance, some religious institutions have merged and others have closed. While the loss of these gathering places can be painful for some communities, it doesn’t have to mean the end of civic connections.

In the world of urban planning, there’s a growing discussion about what’s referred to as third places or third spaces.

To better understand their impact on society, we talked to Fred Kent. As the founder and president of Project for Public Spaces, he’s trained thousands of people in placemaking techniques.